Updates from the Alger
If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit the Alger Theater, let me try to quickly bring you up to speed. Both of the interior East Warren retail spaces have been pretty much completed. We have been able to complete the following: a new ADA compliant elevator; a new ADA compliant rest room; working water to the building; complete white-boxing (with red accent walls) of retail spaces; installation of Ava DuVernay mural commissioned by Desiree Kelly to rooftop deck; heat and air conditioning to retail spaces; and polished concrete floors.
With all of that, we are even happier to announce that we have given the deposit for the final roof repair. This will mean that the Alger Theater will have a 15-year Durolast (the World’s Best Roof) warrantied complete roof and parapet. This has been the stated goal of current President, Jackie Grant, who has raised the lion’s share of these funds through various community grants.
For the first time since the Alger’s closing in the 80’s, we will be able to focus on the theater itself, but here is also where we will need lots of help. We’ve been able to use the retail spaces for community engagement programs such as the HOPE Property Tax Program, Neighbor to Neighbor Program, Invest Detroit Campaign, City of Detroit Streetscape Engagement, and various community “pop-up” events. However, going forward we will need to have community membership in order to raise the funds to complete this theater and fund the necessary programming. We need to increase our volunteer participation in order to ramp up for the next phase.
In spite of what we believe are monumental accomplishments we are faced with the continued question of when will the Alger be opened. Well….
I recently had the opportunity to stop by the Morningside/EEV neighborhood event which was held at Three Mile Park and entitled Summer Sizzler. Before the rain forced me back into my car, I couldn’t help notice how different everything was. Firstly, I had been to this park before, and now everything was different. Clean, mowed, recreational equipment, and covered shelters. Having served on the People for Palmer Park board I knew there was community pressure and organization behind these improvements. Things don’t happen in these neighborhoods without effort!
The next thing that I noticed was that in addition to the normal family fun, food and entertainment that one always finds at these types of neighborhood affairs, the organizers of the event had made sure that individuals from the various community resources were present and available.
But more importantly, I noticed that most of the participants weren’t people who were around when the Alger was opened and in its heyday. These aren’t people who have purchased homes in pristine communities without traces and stories of sad histories. These are not people who have inherited property here. These are people who have made a choice to participate in the Detroit community.
These are the people we need to get the Alger opened. Now!
We need individuals to volunteer to sit on committees that will help steer the direction of this neighborhood asset. We need individuals to volunteer to help plan and execute community events. Events that we hope will be housed in the Alger and benefit the surrounding community. Think children! We need neighbors to become members in order to attract outside funders*. By showing the willingness of the three surrounding communities, East English Village, Morningside, and Cornerstone, to participate/protect their community assets (again, think 3 Mile Park) the entities with the resources follow, not the other way around.
So, when will the Alger be opened? Let’s hope we see the same spirit I saw with the organization of the Sizzler in getting this neighborhood gem opened. We’re hoping to see those who have stuck it out and those that have bought into this everchanging community come out and lend a hand, and maybe serve some ice cream.
How to get involved? Please contact us for volunteer opportunities at: algertheater.org
Conduct Tours
Committee roles
Alger in The Alley event
Building Preservation
Fall Fest
Website/Social Media
Arts/Theater Education Programming
*Become a member for $50/year Please consider making a donation algertheater.org (see “donate” button bottom of page). Rent community message board $3/letter business; $2/letter individual (Non Political)